In-house cybersecurity operations don’t scale as readily as IT leaders need them to. Building and staffing your own Security Operations Center (SOC) is a complex, expensive, and time-consuming project. For small businesses, such a major investment is out of the question—but even the largest enterprises also find value in delegating security operations to managed service providers.
Security leaders have a wide range of options. Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and Managed Security Services Providers (MSSPs) are two of the most popular ones. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they are actually two different things.
MDR vendors are a specific kind of MSSP. They offer security services as a third-party partner to their customers. However, these services are highly specific. They include 24x7 monitoring and alarming to detect threat activity as well as incident response actions to address those threats.
The incident response service is an important distinction. There is considerable variation between the services different MDR vendors can offer. Some offer full, autonomous response from their own SOC, while others offer guidance that helps their customers manage in-house response.
Many MDR vendors also perform proactive threat hunting. This is the process of actively searching for undetected threats on the network. It involves investigating behaviors linked to emerging threat intelligence trends or known indicators of compromise. This offers a valuable contrast to reactive monitoring and incident response operations.
MDR enables organizations to scale cybersecurity and incident response operations according to their needs. Alongside 24x7 monitoring and incident response, the MDR also provides in-depth technological expertise and ongoing support for security operations. This helps MDR customers achieve important goals:
Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) offer a broader range of services than MDR vendors. These services can include end-to-end security management, vulnerability scanning, security assessments, and more. Since MDR vendors are a type of MSSP, they may combine these services with managed detection and response as well.
The main difference between MSSPs and MDR vendors is the scope of the service offered. MSSPs offer a range of services that may include MDR. MDR vendors focus specifically on detection and response.
Both provide in-depth technological expertise and specialist talent to their customers. If your organization wants to implement a specific security technology, either service provider can provide that support. However, MSSPs will generally stop short of conducting incident response operations on your behalf.
Instead, MSSPs may monitor your network through their own SOC and send alerts to your security team. They can provide guidance on what you should do about those alerts, but the responsibility for execution typically rests on your team.
MSSPs can be a good choice for organizations that need help managing complex security infrastructure. A reputable MSSP can provide valuable assistance managing firewalls, scanning for vulnerabilities, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Organizations that already have security infrastructure in place can unlock significant value with an MSSP:
Both MDR vendors and MSSPs have much to offer modern security teams. IT leaders must carefully assess their security capabilities, tech stack, and environment before choosing one over the other.
To find out which of these options is the best one for you, ask yourself these questions:
Lumifi is a managed detection and response vendor that specializes in crafting custom detection rules and providing unlimited visibility into security operations. Our team can help you make the most of your security tech stack and integrate cutting-edge technologies to optimize incident response outcomes. Speak to an expert to learn more about our capabilities.